Thomas Helton / Damon Smith duo

Thomas Helton - double bass

Damon Smith - double bass

Heton and Smith first played in San Francisco in 2005, in 2010 when Smith moved to Houston it became a regular group (by improvised music standards). The duo played often in Houston (including a notable concert at the Menil Collection's Cy Twombly Annex) as well as Austin, Denton & NYC. Both musicians share a love for all the sounds available on the double bass as well as an earthy foundation but each of their musics unfold across a vastly different timeline allowing a natural layer to build in the improvisation.

They have also participated together in larger groups such as the Nameless sound enseble with John Butcher & Gino Robair as well as the the Tom Blancarte Bass Quartet with the great Ingebrigt Håker Flaten rounding out the quartet.